Mining Intelligence and News
Malawi

Kasiya Project

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StagePre-Feasibility
Commodities
  • Rutile
  • Graphite
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
  • Dragline
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotIn January 2025, the Optimised Prefeasibility Study (OPFS), conducted with Rio Tinto's collaboration, reaffirmed Kasiya’s potential as the largest, lowest-cost producer of natural rutile and flake graphite.

The OPFS focused on optimising key areas, including mining methods, plant configuration, tailings strategy, and water and power management, ensuring improved operational efficiency and economic outcomes compared to the 2023 PFS.

In November 2024, preliminary tests confirmed that Kasiya’s graphite meets the required specifications for refractory applications, further expanding its market potential.

Sovereign will advance the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), update the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), and continue graphite testwork to support potential offtake discussions.
Latest NewsSovereign Metals: Kasiya - Optimised PFS Results     January 22, 2025

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Sovereign Metals Ltd. 100 % Indirect
Sovereign Metals Ltd. owns 100% of Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Metamorphic hosted
  • Saprolite
  • Placer

Summary:

Kasiya is located on the Lilongwe Plain, which is underlain by the Basement Complex paragneisses and orthogneisses of the Mozambique Belt. The paragneiss unit (PGRG) is enriched in rutile and graphite and is the primary source of both minerals.

The mineralised PGRG t strikes north in the south of the deposit and then northeast around a central regional fold.

Rutile mineralisation lies in relatively flat lateral near-surface bodies in areas where the weathering profile is preserved and not significantly eroded. It is geologically continuous with limited variability along and across strike.

Rutile concentrations are generally highest near the surface, decreasing with depth. The high-grade rutile deposit at Kasiya is best described as a residual placer where the resistate minerals, including rutile, have been concentrated during in-situ weathering, which has depleted the less resistant minerals.

Rutile occurs in a mostly topographically flat area west of Malawi’s capital, known as the Lilongwe Plain, where a deep tropical weathering profile is preserved. A typical profile from top to base is generally soil (“SOIL” 0-1m) ferruginous pedolith (“FERP”, 1-4m), mottled zone (“MOTT”, 4-7m), pallid saprolite (“PSAP”, 7-9m), saprolite (“SAPL”, 9-25m), saprock (“SAPR”, 25-35m) and fresh rock (“FRESH” >35m).

The rutile deposit type is considered a residual placer formed by the intense weathering of rutile-rich basement paragneisses and variable enrichment by elluvial processes.

Graphite mineralisation as reported in the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is depleted near surface, with higher grades occurring from 6m and deeper in mottled and saprolite units. Graphite mineralisation extends into the saprock and fresh rock, but this extension is currently not included in the MRE.

The low-grade graphite mineralisation occurs as multiple bands of graphite gneisses, hosted within a broader Proterozoic paragneiss package. In the Kasiya areas specifically, the preserved weathering profile hosts significant vertical thicknesses, from near surface, of graphite mineralisation.

The Kasiya mineralised footprint strikes NE – SW and currently occupies an area of about 201 km2.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

CommodityUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
Rutile kt 2225,547
Graphite kt 2336,281
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Expansion CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Gross revenue (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Operating margin, %  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 10% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe

Required Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNamePhoneProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ........... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 17, 2025

Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2023

Aerial view:

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